Here's my perspective.​Let me know yours.

"​Love sought is good, but given unsought is better." ~ William Shakespeare

Last week I attended a new network gathering at the behest of a friend. She had raved about the group and insisted I would find it worthwhile.

As an introvert, I am slow to warm to extraverted activities, so I wasn't completely convinced I would feel the same. But I trusted her and knew she had my best interests at heart. Plus, I had told her I see my life as a continuous journey along a guided path, where I'm often presented with unexpected "side trails" to explore. So of course she said this is a "side trail" worth exploring!

I was overcome with emotion the minute I walked in the door.

Lots of things could explain this. Fatigue from too little sleep. Sensory overload. Nerves. Hormones. Each played a role, to be sure. But as the event continued and the initial overwhelm wore away, I found myself still feeling deeply touched by where I was and who I was with.

When the time came to share my personal and professional story with my small group, I again talked about seeing myself as a wanderer on this path of life, exploring side trails to learn new things about the world, myself, and what's possible when you put your mind to it and have the right support. The words flowed easily. I wasn't worried about making a pitch. I was just being me.

And I was accepted. It moved me so powerfully that I found myself in tears at several points during my afternoon at home. I couldn't figure it out. I am absolutely relishing life right now. Much of what I had dreamed for myself and my family are now daily occurrences. What was going on?

UNSOUGHT LOVE.

Unsought love. I was unexpectedly loved and appreciated in a world that requires so many conditions for giving love. It is rare indeed to receive love when you didn't ask for it.

That's what I'm trying to change, in my own small way, with my daily snail-mail greetings. I may categorize each one differently, but they're all expressions of unsought love.

Last week's unsought love included a surprise gift to a newlywed couple, reconnecting with a former business supplier, and gratitude for time spent with new and old friends:

Do you know someone who is celebrating a special occasion? How about reaching out to people you haven't seen in a while? You can surprise them with unsought love and lift their spirits for days. And I guarantee you will feel equally as loved in the process.

​In my first blog post of 2017, I resolved to send snail-mail greeting cards to at least one person each day to express joy, love, inspiration, and gratitude. Follow my blog or my company pages on Facebook and LinkedIn to see my progress and get inspiration for your own personal connections.